Round 2 of the Munster Senior and Senior B Championship throws in this weekend while in Drumshanbo the Connacht Intermediate Championship begins with Leitrim hosting Sligo.
TG4 Munster Senior Championship Round 2
Kerry v Cork, Saturday April 27th, Brosna, 2pm
The old rivals meet for the second time in the Kingdom this year, Kerry won the league meeting in Tralee back in February and want another win to banish the memories of last year.
It has all the feeling of a semi-final as both sides have a win under their belts and will want to push on and secure their spot in the final next month in Mallow. With Waterford to come next weekend the Kingdom will know a loss here would make for interesting viewing in Cordal next weekend.
Many believe this will be the dress rehearsal for the decider but anything can happen in this competition. Darragh Long was not believing the favourites tag when previewing the competition and with how competitive Cork and Waterford were last weekend neither are a pushover.
Cork of course lost in Tralee earlier this year as the league campaign ended in relegation. A rich history in this competition no doubt gives Cork that rejuvenation needed ahead of the Championship season. Defeating Waterford 1-10 to 0-11 certainly can give them momentum coming into this second test.
Kerry had a slow start in Killarney last weekend against Tipperary but produced a 15 point win in the end with Danielle O’Leary shining in the full-forward line. Still some experimenting being done by Kerry, have they unearthed the formula to topple Cork for a second time with year we will have to wait and see.
Kerry make one change for the fixture as Ciara Butler comes in to wear the number one jersey with Mary Ellen Bolger dropping to the bench. Cork make three changes Sarah Murphy takes over from Caoimhe Richmond in goal while Sadbh McGoldrick and Sadhbh O’Leary replace Aoife Healy and Libby Coppinger.
Tipperary v Waterford, Saturday April 27th, Bansha, 2pm
Having both suffered defeat in the opening round, very much a winner takes all scenario in Bansha for either team to make the Munster Final.
Tipp showed signs of their quality last weekend in Killarney but were wasteful at times and with just one second half point tallied in the defeat to Kerry they must improve this weekend. Emma Morrissey and Aishling Moloney were impressive for the Premier last weekend and will be two key sharpshooters this weekend.
Moloney looked to have picked up an injury last weekend being forced off late on but is named to start as Tipp are unchanged but will want to be a bit more potent in front of the posts as that hindered their changes last weekend.
Waterford looked sharp against Cork, failing in the end to cut the deficit which stood at two when the final whistle sounded. Kellyann Hogan and Brid McMaugh were impressive on the scoring front and alongside Lauren McGregor, Kate McGrath and Emma Murray will be key shooters for Waterford as they aim for a final spot.
They have made two changes with Aoife Morrissey coming in for Lucie O’Shea, while McMaugh replaces Annie Fitzgerald. After rallying in the second half to test Cork last weekend the Deise will be hopeful to command this tie.
When these two last met it was to avoid a relegation decider in the Senior Championship last summer, with Waterford losing that tie after kicks, that cannot happen this weekend and shy of 12 months ago Waterford won in Fraser Field and will be hoping to replicate that outcome this season.
Munster Senior B Championship Round 2
Kerry B v Limerick, Saturday April 27th, Fr Casey’s GAA, Abbeyfeale, 1pm
Limerick can secure a final spot in the Munster Senior B Championship with a very short swap trip to meet Kerry B in Abbeyfeale.
Right on the border between these two counties, almost a home venue for both sides in this Round 2 clash. Kerry come in off the back of a heavy defeat to Cork while Limerick are fresh having not played a competitive game since that league final defeat to Carlow.
With Clare not in this Championship this season, Limerick who would be considered a favourite to win this will want to start strong against the first of the two B sides competing in this three team tournament.
Cork await the Treaty women next weekend and that game has the signs to be a tie to determine who finishes in top spot. Kerry will have to spring a surprise on Limerick but will have their work cut out to defeat an established inter-county selection.
Limerick have made a host of changes from that Division 4 final in Birr. Nine in total, Sophie Hennessy replaces Carol Bateman in goal, Joanne McGuire moves to full back as Yvonne Lee drops out, McGuire started at corner-back in Birr but change has been made in the full-back line with Sarah Dillon and Roisin Brown coming in, Fiona Bradshaw also drops out.
Cathy Mee drops out of the half back line with Meadhbh McNamra moving to midfield, Grace Mullane and Leah Coughlan come into the team with Grace Lee moving to seven. McNamara replaced Roisin Ambrose in the midfield.
Limerick made further changes in their attack, Kate Kennedy and Caoimhe McNamara coming into the half forward line with Karen O’Leary and Katie Heelan dropping out. Ellie Woulfe retains a spot in the full-forward line and is joined by Mairead Kavanagh and Áine Cleary replace Andrea O’Sullivan and Iris Kennelly.
Kerry also have made change after their heavy defeat. Katie Hannan replaces Emma Glynn in goal, Kiera Furey moves to the full-back line joined by Katie Sugure who also moves to the full-back line. Dropping out of the squad in the defence are Ashlea Sheehy and Abbie Brosnan, Sarah Murphy a former Kerry senior player and Ciara Hudson moves from the half forward line to the half backs.
In the midfield Cara Gannon joins Katie Mahony who comes into the panel for Joanne Deay. Melanie Higgins changes position from corner-forward to half forward with Megan Sheehy moving from centre half-forward to full-forward. Another former Kerry Senior player in Megan O’Connor comes into the team wearing 11.
TG4 Connacht Intermediate Championship
Leitrim v Sligo, Saturday April 27th, Shane McGettigan Memorial Park, Drumshanbo, 1pm
Leitrim will be fancied to win this meeting with Sligo as they prepare for the Connacht Final with Roscommon in the coming weeks.
Intermediate v Junior is on the cards for this tie, Sligo can not make the decider in this competition due to their status so the meetings with first Leitrim and this Roscommon are warm up fixtures ahead of the Championship.
It will give Sligo some vital minutes to look at how they will shape up going into the Junior Championship as they look to impress this season. These two have not met since 2022 but will be playing in Division 4 of the Lidl NFL next season as Sligo were relegated this term.
Leitrim no doubt are still hurting to not get promoted to Division 3 this year having finished in second spot. Losing right at the death to Limerick was their last competitive outing and they want to start on a strong note knowing Roscommon will await them in the coming weeks.
With that in mind Leitrim have opted for a strong starting 15, Michelle Guckian is named in midfield and while Leah Fox is absent, Ailbhe Clancy is a big scoring threat while Muireann Devaney makes a first start for Leitrim marking her return this year as she has moved to Sligo to play soccer in the Women’s Premier Division.
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.